MODIFIED INITIATIVE :

I advocate using D10 + SPD, instead of D20 + SPD. This better simulates the greater chance of high speed characters acting first.

• Melee Initiative :
  The current rules don't allow for the fact that certain weapons are faster than others.
  Here are the rules:
  

  Melee Weapon	Initiative Modifier
  Small, One-Handed (e.g. Dagger, Knife)	+1
  Standard, One-Handed (e.g. Sword, Mace)	0
  Flexible, One-Handed (e.g. Flail, Whip)	-1
  Stave, Jaka Bastard sword	-1
  Two-Handed Weapon (e.g. Greatsword, Halberd)	-3
  Two-Handed Flexible Weapon (e.g. Sauran Warwhip)	-4
  Giant-sized Weapons (e.g. Kharakhan axe)	-5
  Unarmed (including Da-Khar, Garde)	-1

• Missile Weapons in Combat :
  • Ready to Fire :
    In conflict situations if a missile weapon is already prepared and held for firing, assume they can shoot first, unless the opponent is charging them within 15'.
    If the opponent is within 15' and charging use the following modifiers:
    

    Readied Missile Weapon	Initiative Modifier
    Fired Ballistic (e.g. Bow, Crossbow)	+5
    Small Thrown (e.g. Knife, Bolas)	+4
    Large Thrown (e.g. Spear, Javelin)	+3

    
    In a shoot-out just use the above as a standard Initiative bonus for all concerned.
    
    
  • Loading Within Close Combat:
    You'd be lucky!
    

• Spell Initiative :
  Defensive spells are designed to be the swiftest, to be created quickly in emergencies to protect against other spells/warriors.
  Offensive spells are fairly fast (as spells go) being used in conflict situations.
  Other spells require more time and are generally less urgent in use.
  All spell-casting is still by comparison slow, as they require precise gestures (and in some cases vocal words).
  

  Spell Type	Initiative Modifier
  Defensive	-3
  Offensive	-5
  Others	-10

  
  

MISSILE COMBAT

• Called Shots :
  These modifiers are subtracted from the chances of hitting a specific area/body part/target.
  

  Area/Size (example)	Modifier
  Body	-1
  Chest/Shoulder	-2
  General Abdomen	-3
  Leg shot	-4
  Arm shot	-5
  Head shot	-6
  Hand/Foot shot	-7
  Throat shot	-8
  Eye shot/sever rope	-9
  Eye shot through visor	-10

  
  

• Visibility :
  

  Situation	Modifier
  Mist/Drizzle	-1
  Heavy Rain/Heavy Snow	-2
  Fog/Torrential Rain	-3
  Blizzard	-5

  
  

HIT POINTS

According to standard rules, all characters gain 2 HP per level irrespective of physicality or career. An unrealistic rule that also leaves little difference between warriors and academics at higher levels. Hit Points should instead increase according

Primary Combat	2HP per level
Secondary Combat	1HP per level
Rudimentary Combat	1HP every other level
Non-Combatant	1HP every third level

• Hit Points per Location :
  These rules are to allow the use of called shots/hits and better reflect the effect damage has on those areas.
  

  Location	Hit points
  Head	50%
  Body	100%
  Arm	50%
  Hand	20%
  Leg	75%

  
  All area damage is removed from total hit points as well, meaning that lesser damage to areas all over the body can still kill (due to bloodloss, shock etc.).
  Only when the attack is 'called' or definitely hits a specific area, does the location matter.
  An area is incapacitated if reduced to '0' HP.
  

MISCLEANOUS RULES

• Multiple Attacks
  The current rules assume that the number of attacks/actions is declared as the round starts. This is unrealistic and doesn't allow the facility of making needed extra attacks, parries or dodges in reaction to enemy maneuvers during the round.
  To simplify it, just assume each action after the first incurs a cumulative penalty of -5.
  Characters with Swordsmanship only suffer a cumulative -3 but may only use Swordsmanship with duelling weapons. See Swordsmanship for it's riposte rules.
  I also limit the number of total actions within the round to a maximum of 6 (1 per second). As this rule is applied to all characters, NPCs and animals, it doesn't unbalance the game in any way.
  

• Knockout Rules
  At present the rules allow for subdual (a long process that essentially tires the opponent) but not blows to knockout.
  The knockout incurs a -5 To Hit penalty, must be a 'full success', and works the following way:
  Roll damage (assuming unarmed or blunt acts as 'full', edged at 'half' due to flat of blade).
  Only half the damage rolled is 'real', the rest is temporary.
  Each point of damage gives a 2 in 20 chance of knockout, BUT each of the victims CON points modifies the total by 1 point. Then roll d20, equal to or under to knockout for d6 turns.
  For example: Korr the Thrall (BCR+8, STR+4) punches Kamm the Thrall (BCR +7, CON +3), attempting to knock him out.
  He rolls to hit (BCR+8, -5 to hit, +1 for BCR difference. A total of +4) he rolls 13, adding the +4 this becomes 17! More than enough for the full success. He does 5 damage.
  The 5 becomes a 10 in 20 chance of knocking out Kamm, but Kamm subtracts his CON (+3) leaving the chance at 7 in 20 (working back, he must get 14-20 to succeed). Korr rolls the d20, and gets 16! Kamm collapses in an unconscious heap...
  

• Unarmed Combat
  All unarmed combat should be assumed to be subdual, except for some Kanquan attacks. Unarmed combat is highly unlikely to kill.
  

• Surprise
  The current rules assume that the surprised party just stands there gawking for 6 seconds, as the party that ambushed them chops them into tiny pieces.
  Very few individuals are ever shocked enough to be totally inactive for that period. I allow the shocked individuals to defend themselves (parrying only) for that round at half skill, and they automatically loose Initiative.
  

• Disarming
  The rules don't state any penalty To Hit while attempting a disarm maneuver. I recommend a -5 penalty.
  

• Shield Use
  According to the current rules a shield subtract -2 from the opponents 'To Hit'. This doesn't reflect the true effectiveness of a shield.
  Instead, I recommend it adds +2 to any Parry attempt (only when actively parrying) and acts as a further 3 points of armour (when not actively parrying).
  It stills adds +1/+2* to the number of opponents that can be actively defended against.
  * - for enchanted shields.
  

• Defending vs Multiple Foes
  The original rules allow a character to defend against a number of opponents equal to half their BCR. This is obviously ludicrous at higher levels.
  For a start, only a limited number of opponents can attack a character at any one time!
  I allow 1 opponent, + 1 for every 5 points of BCR.
  No more than 6 average characters, 2 giant characters, or 12 whisp sized characters can attack an individual at any one time.